Parents learned of daughter’s death through social media

Police are investigating the death of a woman found in her home in the northeast Las Vegas Valley as a homicide.

Officers were sent just after 11:30 a.m. Friday to the home on the 1900 block of Spindrift Court, near East Lake Mead Boulevard and Mt. Hood Street, according to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department news release.

The woman has been identified by the Clark County Coroner’s Office as 24-year-old Brittney Briggs of Las Vegas. Her official cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to strangulation and multiple blunt force trauma; the manner was ruled a homicide.

Kim Briggs and John Schaffner hold childhood photos of their daughter, Britteny Briggs, as they try to cope with her death.

“I just didn't want it to be true," said Kim Briggs.

On Saturday, the coroner’s office conducted an autopsy which revealed several hemorrhages around the neck, indicating the victim had been strangled. Homicide Detectives responded to the coroner's office to take over the investigation.

Brittany's parents said their three-year-old grand-daughter opened the door for friends who discovered her body. Her parents said she had seizures and struggled to get on her feet, but she recently graduated high school with her GED. At first, they feared their daughter may have taken her own life until homicide investigators started to ask questions.

At the coroner’s office, Brittany’s parents were told she had bruising on her body and were suspicious but did not indicate where or how it happened. Later they found out on social media that their daughter was likely strangled to death.

"I found it on Facebook. Our son was at work on break and read it on Facebook and text me," Briggs said.

LVMPD said they do not have a suspect or motive in the case. Both parents are looking for answers to who did this to their daughter and why they had to find out how she died on social media.

“Why were we left in the dark?" said Briggs.

According to LVMPD, family members would usually get the details of autopsy results from the coroner.

This is the 19th homicide investigated by LVMPD in 2017. A suspect has not been identified, and the motive is unknown.

Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact LVMPD's Homicide Section at (702) 28-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555, www.crimestoppersofnv.com or text CRIMESNV plus tip information to 274637 (CRIMES). Message and data rates may apply.

Tips leading directly to an arrest or indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.